Things to do in Harrogate

Looking for things to do in Harrogate today, this week or during the holidays? Great news, you are in the right place as we have all of the best attractions and events to keep you and your family entertained.

The guide is broken down into easy to use sections which provide useful information and links to pages with more details or direct to attractions and event websites for easy booking.

So sit back, grab your favourite drink and lets find something new for you to enjoy with or without the kids!

Things to do in Harrogate

The Royal Pump Room Museum

If you are looking for a family friendly intimate museum to enjoy during your visit to Harrogate, then look no further than The Royal Pump Room museum. The museum has many exhibits which take you through Harrogate’s ancient spa history and you will get to discover everything there is to know about this beautiful spa town. If you are brave, you can visit the strongest sulphur well in Europe or take a look at the many spa treatments of the Victorian era including peat baths, electric therapies and nasal douches!

Family fun at The Royal Pump Room Museum

If you have children with you, make sure that you head to reception and borrow a family backpack. Then the fun begins as they solve the mystery object game and complete the Spa Trail. Once they complete both activities they will find out what it was like to be a visitor to Harrogate over a century ago.

The Ancient Egyptian treasures exhibit is great fun as you and your family get to try on replica ancient Egyptian clothes, write your name in hieroglyphs (or anything else you want for that matter) and dress up as a scientist.

The Royal Pump Room museum offers lots of fun and education for all the family and is a great way to spend a few hours.

Valley Gardens

The Valley Gardens is a beautiful park and gardens, just a stones throw away from Harrogate town centre.

Fact – Valley Gardens has more mineral springs than any other known place in the United Kingdom! You can even take a visit to Bogs Field to see the 36 mineral wells.

With the help of the Friends of Valley Gardens, the gardens themselves are constantly being improved and restored. There are various different areas and many garden styles which makes it a great place to explore and relax.

Most of the footpaths are just fine for most wheelchair users and there are disabled and able bodied toilets.

Fun in Valley Gardens

During the summer you can enjoy band concerts on a Sunday afternoon and from April to October, there are tennis courts, crazy golf, pitch & putt, children’s play areas (including a wooden fort, tyre swings and small toddler play area), paddling pools and a boating pool to have fun in.

With all the walking and playing you are bound to get a little hungry and just in case you have not brought your own you can get something to eat and drink at the Magnesia Well Café and Games Pavilion between Easter and September.

The Valley Gardens in Harrogate offers relaxation and fun for both young and old and is a truly great way to enjoy a warm summers day. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

What to do in Harrogate today?

Mother Shipton’s Cave

Fact – Mother Shipton’s Cave is the oldest visitor attraction in England and opened in 1630!

More than just a cave, the Mother Shipton’s cave attraction which is located just outside of Harrogate, in Knaresborough has a lovely park to explore along the river Nidd with a petrifying well, wishing well, museum and of course the cave where Mother Shiption herself once lived.

Mother Shipton History

The cave and Royal forest was once home to the famous Mother Shipton, or Ursula Southeil as she was actually called, who lived over 500 years ago during the reign of Henry VIII.

Some of the prophecies Mother Shipton made concerned the fates of several rulers during her lifetime and after she died and she is even known for predicting the Great Fire of London in 1666, the invention of iron ships and the defeat of the Spanish Armada, along with over 100 other prophecies.

However, Mother Shipton did not foretell the end of the world as the publisher of her book in 1862 confessed to making that one up. Probably just as well as the made up prophecy said it would end in 1861, yeah, bit bizarre that one. Anyway, lots of prophecies and certainly lots of history!

People from all over the world flock visit the beautiful park, take a look at the Petrifying well and enjoy a walk and picnic alongside the river Nidd.

There is also a playground for the kids and a super museum and gift shop for you to find something to remind yourself of your visit to the oldest tourist attraction in England.